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Holes in leaves are a symptom, not a diagnosis. To work out what may be causing them, note the plant and damage pattern, then check when the damage appeared and look for clues such as insects, slime trails, tracks, or droppings. A hole may come from an animal or pest—or from damaged leaf tissue falling away.
Start with the plant and the damage
Before treating anything, identify the plant if you can, note whether it is indoors or outdoors, and consider your region. The examples below include plant-specific cases from University of Minnesota Extension; they are clues, not a universal list of pests. Compare the shape of the damage and look for evidence that supports a possible cause.
- Are the holes ragged and crossing the veins?
- Has the tissue between the veins been eaten, leaving a lace-like leaf?
- Are the holes long and oval, or are whole sections missing?
- Did round, depressed spots appear before the tissue dropped out?
- Did the damage show up suddenly, perhaps after severe weather or overnight?
Use the pattern to narrow the possibilities
| What you see | Possible explanation in the cited examples | What else to check |
|---|---|---|
| Ragged, irregular holes that cross leaf veins | Slugs | Look for soft-bodied slugs and silvery trails. UMN Extension’s daylily guide and hosta guide describe this pattern. |
| Leaf tissue eaten between veins, leaving a lace-like appearance | Japanese beetles; young caterpillars on some plants | Inspect for beetles or caterpillars. The likely pest depends on the host plant. UMN Extension’s daylily guide gives examples. |
| Long oval holes between veins | Variegated cutworms on hosta | Check for caterpillars and consider whether the damage fits the season in your area. UMN Extension’s hosta guide describes this host-specific example. |
| Irregular holes without a more distinctive pattern | Earwigs or grasshoppers in the UMN examples | Look for the insect and consider the plant and local conditions; the pattern alone does not confirm the cause. See the daylily guide and hosta guide. |
| Large sections or whole leaves missing | Deer, rabbits, or other animal feeding | Look for tracks or droppings, especially if the loss appeared suddenly or overnight. See UMN Extension’s daylily guide and hosta guide. |
| Ragged holes that appeared suddenly in one area after severe weather | Hail damage may fit | Check whether new leaves produced after the weather event are undamaged. UMN Extension notes that plants outgrow damage and leaves produced after hail may be undamaged. |
| Round, depressed spots followed by holes where tissue has fallen out | A shot-hole appearance associated with four-lined plant bug injury on sumac | Look for the spots and the described insect; this is not the same pattern as chewing holes. See UMN Extension’s sumac guide. |
Check for clues before you choose a treatment
- Inspect both sides of the leaves. Look closely for insects, particularly where the damage is fresh, and check nearby foliage too.
- Look around the plant. Slugs may leave silvery trails; animal tracks or droppings can support an animal-feeding hypothesis.
- Match the timing. Sudden localized damage after severe weather can fit hail. Sudden overnight loss can also point toward animal feeding. Timing helps narrow the options but does not prove a cause.
- Separate holes from spots. If you see round, depressed lesions before tissue drops away, consider a shot-hole pattern rather than assuming a chewing pest.
Remember that a hole is not always insect damage
Dead tissue can fall out of spots and leave holes behind. On sumac, UMN Extension describes a shot-hole appearance associated with four-lined plant bug injury. Houseplant leaf problems can also have environmental, chemical, root, or infectious causes; holes alone do not identify which one is involved. UC IPM’s Pest Notes: Houseplant Problems covers those broader possibilities for houseplants.
What to do when the cause remains unclear
Do not apply a generic pesticide just because leaves have holes. Treatment depends on the pest, plant, and location; for houseplants, UC IPM advises choosing a treatment for the pest and plant and following product-label safety directions. That guidance is specific to houseplant problems, not a universal remedy for leaf holes.
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#1 Best Overall
Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil, 32 oz Ready-to-Use Spray
- Protect your oasis with 3 garden products in 1 from Captain Jack’s; Bonide Captain Jack’s Ready-to-Use Neem Oil spray for plants is a multi-purpose fungicide, insecticide and miticide for your lawn & garden
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- This product arrives conveniently ready-to-use in a trigger spray bottle; to use, shake well and completely cover affected plants. Reapply as needed every 7-14 days. Please see product label for full instructions
If the plant is valuable, the damage is spreading, or the clues conflict, take clear photos of the whole plant, the damaged leaves, and any suspected pest or tracks. Ask a local extension office or other qualified local diagnostician to help identify the cause before treating. UC IPM’s maintenance-gardener workbook also explains how to distinguish pest damage from nonliving and cultural injury.
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Mighty Mint Peppermint Oil Insect Repellent Spray, 16 oz
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BioAdvanced 3-in-1 Insect, Disease, and Plant Mite Control Spray - 24 fl oz
- 3-IN-1 PLANT CARE: 3-In-1 Insect, Disease & Plant Mite Control provides insect control, disease control, and plant mite control all in one; Rainproof protection starts in 4 hours and lasts up to 14 days
- INSECT KILLER: Pest control formula kills and prevents Aphids, adult Japanese Beetles, Whiteflies, and other listed pests; Use outdoors on rose bushes*, flower plants*, ornamentals, shrubs, and trees
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Bonide Captain Jack's Insecticidal Super Soap, 32 oz Ready-to-Use Spray For Organic Gardening and Outdoor Plants
- PEST DEFENSE - Insecticidal Super Soap controls species of adelgid, ant, aphid, borer, caterpillar, spider mite, cricket, chinch bug, weevil, fly, thrip, & more.
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- KILLS TWO WAYS - This product kills through direct contact and through ingestion. Spray insects, such as aphids, directly or allow leaf feeding insects, such as worms and caterpillars, to eat the leaf surface to die.
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BioAdvanced Houseplant Insect and Mite Control Spray - 24 fl oz Bottle
- INDOOR & OUTDOOR HOUSEPLANT CARE: Houseplant Insect & Mite Control provides insect control, plant mite control, and disease control all in one; Use to protect houseplants, flowers, and herbs indoors and outdoors
- INSECT KILLER: Pest control formula kills Aphids, Fungus Gnats, Whiteflies, Lace Bugs, and other listed pests; Pests need to be contacted by the spray to be controlled
- DISEASE CONTROL: Fungicide controls Powdery Mildew, Leaf Spot, Rust, and other listed diseases; Convenient and ready-to-use spray
- PLANT MITE CONTROL: Miticide kills and prevents spider mites and listed plant mites; Thoroughly spray all areas of the plant, especially new shoots and underside of leaves
- GET MORE FROM THE BLUE BOTTLE: Explore BioAdvanced's science-based solutions for roses and flowers; We make it easier than ever to prevent diseases, kill and protect against insects, and feed plants for up to weeks at a time
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